Kunio-kun Returns to GBA

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Atlus plans collections based off classic Japanese titles.

By Anoop Gantayat

Atlus has announced plans for a Kunio-kun revival on the Game Boy Advance. The company will pair two classic Kunio-kun games in a series of collections for release on the portable. Three entries in the series have been announced so far.

The Kunio-kun series was a Japanese game staple during the 8 and 16 bit days. The series originated with the 1987 Nekketsu Kouha Kunio-kun and continued for seven years with 23 titles, cumulating in the 1994 Nekketsu! Beach Volleyball Da Yo Kuniokun.

In Dodge Ball, you attempt to drain your opponent's life meter all the way to zero, using a variety of character-specific special shots. The game includes two and four player modes of play.

Ganbare Dunk Heroes is based on basketball, set on the streets of America. In addition to shooting hoops, you can perform punches and kicks and use items against your opponents. The game includes a story mode playable by up to two players along with a battle mode that supports four player games.

Kunio-kun Nekketsu Collection 1 will be followed this fall by Kunio-kun Nekketsu Collection 2. The game will include Nekketsu Dodge Ball Soccer-hen and Downtown Nekketsu Koushinkyoku, both originally from 1990. The first title is a soccer game in which the members of the dodge ball club, featured in Nekketsu Koukou Dodge Ball try their hand (or feet) at soccer. Downtown involves a sports competition that takes place around town and is playable by four players.

Kunio-kun Nekketsu Collection 3 is also set for release in the fall. Included are 1992's Ike Ike! Nekketsu Koukou Hockey-bu Subette-koronde Dairantou and 1993's Downtown Special Kunio-kun no Jidaigeki Da Yo Zennin Shuugou. The former is a hockey game, with the latter title including RPG-like character raising.

These games probably won't make it to America, so if you're interested in grabbing a piece of old-school Atlus history, importing is your only option.